Brussels, 13 March 2009 – Brussels Minister for the Environment, Evelyne Huytebroeck, and the mobile operators affiliated with the GSM Operators' Forum (hereafter referred to as "GOF") have agreed on a framework for the implementation of the Brussels standard of 3 volts/meter, fixed by the Ordinance of 1 March 2007 regarding the "protection of the environment against potential harmful effects and inconveniences caused by non-ionizing radiations".
This ordinance:
- lays down a maximum environmental emission standard of 3 volts/meter;
- stipulates the issuing of an environmental permit to use antennas which emit electromagnetic waves;
- implies that the government must keep a register of the antennas.
The ordinance laid down a period of two years to apply the Brussels standard, which in fact requires the adoption of implementing decrees containing useful technical and operational information. This period could not be put to much use owing to the proceedings for annulment pending before the Constitutional Court for nearly one and a half years. The implementing decrees are currently being adopted by the Government of the Brussels Capital Region.
That is why the parties, who have formally expressed their commitment to start consultations for the elaboration of the implementing decrees which can offer an adequate, feasible technical solution for the operators, will talk in order to enable the definitive adoption of the ordinance's implementing decrees on 15 September 2009.
During this interim period, the Brussels Environment department will carry out its mission of inspection, complaints processing and mediation, by issuing a moratorium on drawing up reports.
The consultations will deal with:
- the composition of the environmental permit application;
- the issuing procedure of the environmental permit;
- the procedure and parameters for measuring electromagnetic waves;
- the planning of the technical and administrative regularization of existing transmission antennas.
The Minister and the operators are delighted to have arrived at an agreement that will guarantee compliance with the standard, while maintaining the quality of the networks and services provided.